Jack's book: An oral biography of Jack Kerouac [Hardcover]

Barry Gifford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1978

The reminiscences and revelations of the American writer's colleagues, acquaintances, boyhood friends, and lovers, illuminating his life, works, an the spirit of mid-century America, are bound together by commentary.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you're interested in what th talk of the Fifties sounded like, and if you believe that literature may just have something to do with life, then read this book." --National Review

"A fascinating literary and historical document, the most insightful look at the beat generation." --Dan Wakefield

"Lively in its inerspliced rhythmns and often compelling." --Chicago Tribune

"Jack's Book is first-rate...if offers the flavor and depth of good fiction while keeping well within the realms of literal truth." --Saturday Review

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Barry Gifford's novels include Wild at Heart, Sailor's Holiday, Night People, and Arise and Walk. He lives in the San Fricisco Bay area.

Lawrence Lee, a Peabody Award-winning journalist, worked for UPI, AP, and a number of television stations in San Francisco. He coauthored Saroyan: A Biography. Mr. Lee died in 1990.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 339 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1ST edition (1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312439423
• ISBN-13: 978-0312439422
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,021,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential to understanding Jack, July 22, 2007

By 

Zelie Nic (Pittsburgh) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jack's Book: An Oral Biography Of Jack Kerouac (Paperback)

I love oral histories, and I Kerouac's alright. Its neat that the people responsible for this book collected and intereviewed some of Jack's friends from before he became famous. I was also unaware of his firt's marriages annulment and his involvment in hiding a body. There's a lot of great snippets... but there's also a lot of boring windbags blowing in this book too.

Still, its worth every penny.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beat a path to this book, April 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Jack's Book: An Oral Biography Of Jack Kerouac (Paperback)

Chock to bursting with recollections from Kerouac's intimates, this page-turner will be read in two or three sittings. These recollections are interspersed among the authors' own discoveries and conclusions. Not as exhaustive as "Memory Babe," this book is more for the person just getting into Kerouac's work and life. In the back of this book are lists of what has become of these acquaintances of Kerouac's and what their aliases were in his books, information which will become dearer to you as you delve deeper into Jack's Duluoz Legend. All in all, one terrific book worth anyone's time and money.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An oral intrigue into Kerouac's and the Beats, June 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Jack's Book: An Oral Biography Of Jack Kerouac (Paperback)

Gifford and Lee, seemingly well read about the Beats and Keoruac, are second only to Ann Charter's biographical work on Kerouac. The real sense of the'50's, the mentality, the hazards, and the activities of Burrows, Ginsberg,Jack and the boys are given a very thorough and entertaining once over. The scholarly merit isn't here, but the titilation and interesting skinny is.